Checkwriter



G. M. WILLIS.

CHECKWRITER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1!. 1918.

1,321,348. Patented N v.'11,1919.

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G. M. WILLIS.

CHECKWRITER.

APPLICATION man APR. n. ma.

Patented N0v.'11, 1919.

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cnaqxwanea. APPLICATION FILED APR. II. 9H3.

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GEORGE M. WILLIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application filed April '11, 1918. Serial No. 227,871.

which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this SPQClfiCiLtlOII.

My invention relates to printing machines and particularly to that class of hand presses which are used for marking or impressing" upon the face of a check, draft" orother negotiable instrument, the amount for which the instrument is payable.

Heretofore in the art it has been customary to provid the printing characters with serrated printing faces, which serrated printing faces are adapted to cooperate with a platen having a correspondingly serrated impression face. This form of check-writer has been found to be unsatisfactory, due to the difliculty in properly registering the 00- operating serrated faces of the printing characters and the platen, and also to the comparatively short time in which these serrated faces become worn out.

My invention consists of a novel construction of check writer, wherein the impression face of the platen and the cooperating faces of the printing characters are relatively smooth, thereby providing a device of great el'liciency and durability.

Due to the .great complexity of most of the devices now in use. and to the necessity for placing such devices in the hands of persons usually not skilled in th use thereof, I contemplate an improved check writer of extremely simple and inexpensive construction which may be operated by any person, whether skilled in the use thereof or not.

According to my invention, the check or other negotiable instrument upon which the amount payable is to be marked or impressed is perforated within the area w-ithm which the amount is to be printed, a series of smooth faced printing characters having been previously inked and adapted to ink the upstanding edges of the openings formed upon perforating the paper, then coopera ing with a smooth faced platen to crush or flatten these upstanding edges, thereby forcing the ink into the fiber of the paper and making it impossible to remove the ink or otherwise alter the amount payable without mutilating-the face of the paper.

As the check blanks, drafts and the like now 1n general use are provided with a blank space wlth the word dollars printed at the end'thereof, I mark or impress the amount upon the check in dollars and hundredth parts of a dollar instead of using a decimal polnt which might be easily removed or of printing the amount, in dollars and cents with theword centsfollowing the amount,

as is the present practice. The check writer of my invention is provided with a sight indicator which discloses to the operator the particular printing characters that are in position to be impressed upon the check, thereby minimizing the possibility of im pressing the amount incorrectly upon the check.

I find this construction to be highly advantageous, as it is simple, reliable and durable. I do not intend to be limited to the precise construction which I disclose herein, as I consider the various means which may be devised for perforating the check and then marking or impressing the amount payable upon th perforated area thereof, to be but different ways or routes for arriving at the same desirable result, and hence I consider them to 'be within the scope of my invention. In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the check writer of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the fool proof mechanism employed in con nection with the check writer of my invention;

- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a check having been embossed with my improved check writer;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, showing the cooperative action of the printing characters with the perforated area of the check; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a stripper for removing the check from the perforating pins upon the perforation of the check.

The check writer of my invention comprises a substantially rectangular casing 1, preferably fashioned from some suitable sheet metal or the like the side walls 2 and 3 of which are suitably slotted toreceive a check, draft or other negotiable instrument, as will be hereinafter described. The casing 1 is provided with a guidin member 4: extending transversely. thereo when it is desired to mark 6r einb'dss' the same. The guiding memberfi comprises two pairs of suitably spaced plates of sheetinetal extending transversely of the casingl, and spaced longitudinally at the center so that the platen maybe lifted therethrough, as will be hereinafter described, these plates being spaced slightly in a vertical plane for the reception of a check or the like therebetween. The outer edges of the upper plates of the guiding member 4 arebent at sub.- stantially right angles thereto to. facilitate soldering, riveting or. otherwise, 'Seg curing these platesto the oppositeside walls and 3 resp'ectivelv'of the 1. The

lower plates of the guiding member 4 project from the opposite sides of theec asing 1 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thereby forining a ledge on either side of, the casing l, to facilitate the ready introduction of a check, draft or the like into the guiding member 4.

Above the transverse guiding member 4 are mounted the type bearing bars 5 which carry upon their under surfaces suitable printing or embossing characters 6. The type bearing bars 5, which are substantially I shaped in cross-section, are mounted for lon itudinal movement between a plurality of horizontally disposed supporting bars 7, the upper enlarged portions of the I shaped type-bearing bars 5 bearing upon the upper surfaces of these supporting bars. A pair of intermediate side walls 8 and 9 are disposed between and substantially parallel to the side walls 2 and 3 of the casing 1 as shown in Fig. 3. The intermediate side walls 8 and 9 are adapted to carry or have secured thereto such parts of the device as will be hereinafter described, thereby obviating the necessity of riveting to or otherwise marring the outside appearance of the side walls 2 and 3.

The horizontally disposed supportin bars 7 are supported at their opposite en s by transversely extending supporting brackets 10 and 11. The outer ends of the transverse supporting brackets 10 and 1 1 are bent back at substantially right angles to the transverse portion thereof to facilitate connection as by rivets or otherwise, to the intermediate side walls 8 and 9. The transversely extending portions of the supporting brackets 10 and 11 are provided with a plurality of apertures for receiving the opposite ends of the supporting bars 7 which extend thereand intowhich the check is adapted to be inserted 12 being provide suitable tongues 12, as shown in Fig. 2, preferalbly formed integral therewith and projectinghorizontally from the inner end thereof, these horizontally projecting tongues with vertical apertures therethrough. Each of the type-bearing bars .5 is provided with an indicating strip 13, preferably formed of sheet metal and faced with celluloid or the like, these indicating strips lit-being disposed adjacent the under surface of the top, of the casing 1 and adapted to move in unison with-the type bearing bars 5 to disclose to the operator through an appropriate transverse aperture 14 provided in th'e"top of the casing 1, the particular printing characters that are in po- 'sition to be'inaizked 6r. impressed upon the check. Q The inner {end 'ofi-the indicating strips 13 are provided with downwardly projecting fingers 15,, either formed integral therewith or suitably secured thereto. 7 The lower free ends of the downwardly projecting fingers 15 are adapted to be received in the .vertical apertures provided in the horizontally projecting tongues 12 of the type bearino bars 5, so that upon movement of the indicating strip 13 the type bearing bar 5 will move in unison therewith. The indicating strip 13 has a series of digits on the upper surface thereof, corresponding to and coinciding vertically with the printing characters provided on the under surface of the type bearing bars 5. As the check blanks, drafts and the like, now in general use, areprovided with a blank space with the word dollars printed at the end thereof,

I employ type bearing bars that are adapted to mark or impress the amount upon the checking dollars and hundredth parts of a dollar, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The type bearing bar adjacent the right hand side of the device is provided with the digits 0 over 100 to 9 over 100, thereby indicating the hundredth parts of a dollar, the type bearing bar adjacent thereto being provided with the digits 0 to 9 positioned to aline with the digits 1 to 9 of the hundredth indicating bar, each of the digits of this bar which indicates the tenth parts of a dollar being preceded by the word and. It is now apparent that these two type bearing bars can be quickly positioned to produce any hundredth part of a dollar. Each of the type bearing bars to the left of the tenth and hundredth bars is provided with the digits 0 to 9, the 1 being preceded by some suitable spacing character 'or embossed by the spacing character provided on the ten thousand bar thereby preventing alteration of the check by placing an additional digit to the left of the amount, the Pay bar 61 being mounted rigidly in the casing. I I

Upwardly projecting fingers 16 are provided on the inner ends of the indicating strips '13, these upwardly projecting fingers 16 projecting through appropriate longitudinal slots 17, provided inthe top of the casing 1. The indicating strips 13 and consequently the type bearing bars 5 are adapted for longitudinal movement in the casing 1 by means of the buttons or finger pieces 18 provided on the upper end of the upwardly projecting fingers 16. I c

The opposite ends of the indicating strips 13 are adapted to be guided by means of suitable fingers 19 which project upwardly through appropriate longitudinal slots provided in the top of the casing 1, the upper ends of these fingers 19 being headed or flattened over to prevent displacement thereof. It will now be apparent that to set the printing characters to any amount that is desired to be marked or impressed upon the check, all, that is necessary is to shift the type bearing bars 5 by means of the finger pieces 18, the indicating strips 13 disclosing to the operator through the transverse slot 1 1 the exact setting of the device, as shown in Fig. 1.

An inking pad 20, having a rubber or felt pad or cushion 21 mounted upon the under face thereof is arranged for longitudinal movement just above the guiding member 4:, the guiding member 4: being inclined toward the inner end of the casing 1, so that the inking pad 20 will clear the type bearing bars 5 when in the inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 2. The ends of the inking pad 20 are carried by suitable arms 22, the opposite ends of which are mounted upon a cross shaft 23. The cross shaft 23 extends transversely across the casing 1, its opposite ends being guided in appropriate slots provided in the intermediate side walls 8 and 9.

The perforating and impressing mechanism comprises a transversely extending plate 24, the opposite ends 25 and 26 of which are bent downwardly adjacent the intermediate side walls 8 and 9 at substantially right angles to the transversely extending portion of the plate. The upper face of the transverse plate 24 is provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting pins 27, as shown in Fig. 2, these pins being adapted to cooperate with the pad or cushion 2-1 provided upon the under face of the inking pad 20 to perforate the check when the transverse plate 24: is lifted, as will be hereinafter described. The downwardly extending portions 25 and 26 of the transverse able rivets or otherwise, the inner faces of the intermediate side walls 8 and 9 respectively. The lower free ends of the downwardly extending portions 25 and 26 of the transverse plate 24: are mounted upon a cross shaft 29. The opposite ends of the cross shaft 29 extend through and are guided for vertical movement in suitable slots provided in the intermediate side walls 8 and 9 respectively. The ends of the cross shaft 29 are provided with suitable rollers 30 mounted thereupon adjacent the outerv faces of the intermediate walls Sand 9. The rollers 30 are adapted to be engaged by suitable lifting cams arranged thereunder, thereby lifting the transverse plate 24 t0 perforate the paper and to impress the amount payable in this perforated area as will be hereinafter. described.

A .cross shaft 31, adapted to be operated by a crank 32 and a handle 33 extends horizontally through the side wall 3 and the intermediate side walls 8 and 9 respectively of the casing 1, its opposite free end terminating between the intermediate wall 8 and the side wall 2. The cross shaft 31 is provided with a pair of lifting cams mounted thereupon, just beneath the rollers 30 and adjacent the outer faces of the intermediate walls 8 and 9 respectively. These lifting cams, as shown in Fig. 2 are provided with a pair of lifting fingers 34 and 35 with a depressed portion 36 therebetween.

Due to the necessity of placing devices of this class in the hands of persons usually not skilled in the use thereof, and the cousequent need of a device requiring few manual operations, and little prethought, I have provided for automatically alining the printing characters before marking or impressing them upon th face of the check. To this end the upper surfaces of the type bearing bars are provided with a series of transverse channels 37 formed therein, these transverse channels 37 coinciding vertically with the printing characters 6 on the under surface of the type bearing bars. A spring pressed alining bar 38 extending transversely across the upper surfaces of the type bearing bars 5 is adapted to cooperate with the transverse channels 37 provided therein, to properly aline the type bearing bars 5 upon operation of the crank 32, as will be hereinafter described. Spring strips 39 are mounted as at 40 upon each. of the outer faces of the intermediate walls 8 and 9 of the casing 1. The downwardly extending arms of these spring strips are provided with horizontally extending portions 57, bent at substantially right angles thereto, the free ends of these horizontal portions bearing upon the upper peripheries of the rollers 30, provided on the cross shaft 29. The free ends of the arms of these spring strips which extend substantially horizontally from the pivotal mounting 40 engage the under surface of the inner end of a rocker arm 41. The opposite ends of the rocker arms 41, which are pivoted at their central position to the intermediate walls 8 and 9 respectively, engage the opposite ends of the alining bar 38 so that the alining bar will be pressed downwardly into the transverse channels 37 provided in the type bearing bars 5 to aline the printing character 6 upon rotation of the shaft '31 by means of the crank 32 and handle 33.

A relatively smooth faced platen 42 pivotally mounted atit opposite ends to the downwardly extending portions 25 and 26 of the transverse perforating plate 24 by means of the arms 43'is normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of suitable coiled springs 44.

A pair of leaf springs 45, shown in Figs;

2 and 3 are mounted upon the transverse shaft 31 adjacent the intermediatewalls 8 and 9 respectively of the casing 1.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen-that the leaf springs 45 normally project downwardly from the cross shaft 31, the downwardly projecting portion being just below the depressed portion 36 of the lifting cam. This arrangement is so that upon rotation of the cross shaft 31, by means of the handle 33 and the crank 32 in a counterclockwise direction, the leaf springs 45 will not engage Z the downwardly extending arms 43 of the platen 42 until the lifting cam 34 have engaged the rollers30, thereby lifting the transverse perforating plate 24 to perforate the check. Further rotation of the cross shaft 31 will cause the rollers 30 to drop from the lifting cams 34 into the depressed portion 36. The leaf springs 45 are then adapted to engage the downwardly projectiug arms 43 of the platen 42 and thereby swing the platen about the pivot 46 against the tension of the spring 44 into a position covering the upwardly pro ecting perforating pin 27, provided on the upper surface of the transverse plate 24. Still further rotation of the cross shaft 31, the leaf springs 45 giving sufficiently to allow of such rotation brings the lifting cams 35 into engagement with the rollers 30, thereby lifting the transverse plate 24 with the platen 42, covering the perforating pins 27 provided on the.

upper surface thereof, the platen 42 being suitably spaced from the perforating pins 27 by means of suitable spacing blocks provided upon either end of the platen. The platen 42 will be thereby lifted against the under surface of the check up through the guiding member 4, which is suitably apertured therefor as shown in Fig. 2, into coiiperation with the printing characters 6 provided on the under surface of the type these brackets being suitably securedto the intermediate side Walls '8 and 9 of the 'c'asing 1'. 1

Motion is imparted from the transverse shaft 31 to. the inking pad 20 by means vof a substantially horizontal lever arm 49, shown in Fig. 2. The leverarm 49v is pivoted eccentric'all'y upon the outer end of the shaft 31, the opposite endof this lever aim being suitably notched-to e ga e a pin 50, projecting' from 'a lever 51. "The lever 51,

, the lowere'nd of which is pivotallymounted ,at' 52 to the' intermediate side wall 8, has

a spring arm' 53 suitably secured to the upper 'free end thereof. The lever arm 51 is preferablyjbent inwardly intermediate its length so that the spring arm 53 will engage thecros's shaft 23, substantially in the center thereof.

It will now be apparent that upon rotating the transverse shaft31 by means of the crank 32, the lever arni 49 will move eccentrica'lly about the end of the shaft 31, thereby 's'wlnging the lever '51 about its pivot 52 and consequently causing engagement of the spring arm '53, which is less resilient than the leaf springs 47, with the cross shaft 23, to move the cross shaft 23 and inking pad 20 supported thereby, .inwardly across the face of the printing characters that are in position to be impressed upon the check, into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

It is, of course, understood that the print ing characters 6 were previously alined by engagement of the rollers 30 in their upward movement with the horizontally extending portions 57 of the spring strips 39. Further rotation of the shaft 31, the spring arm 53 being relatively stronger than the leaf spring 47, but being sufficiently flexible to allow of such rotation, causes engagement of the lifting cams 34 with the rollers 30 to lift the transverse plate 24, thereby forcing the perforating pins 27 through the check and into the pad or cushion 21 provided on the under surface of the inking pad 20.

Still further rotation of the shaft 31 in a counterclockwise direction causes the rollers 30 to drop from the cams 34 into the depressed portions 36, although not shown, it is understood that spring means may be employed in connection herewith, thus withdrawing the perforating pins 27 from the check. The lever arm 49 is provided with a notch 54 so positioned that the inclined shoulder thereof will engage a suitable knockout pin 55 just after withdrawal of the perforating pins from the check. This engagement of the inclined shoulder of the notch 54 with the knockout pin 55 moves the lever arm 49 upwardly about the shaft 31 against the ,tension of a suitable spring 56, thereby causing the notched free end of the lever to disengage the pin 50 projecting from the lever arm 51,.thereby allowing the .leaf springs 47, by reason of their engagement with the transverse shaft 23,to move the inking pad 20 into the position shown in Fig. 2. I

Further rotation of the shaft 31 causes the platen 42 to be interposed between the perforating pins 27 and the check, ashas been heretofore explained, the platen 42 then being lifted and cotiperating with the printing characters 6 impresses the amount payable upon the perforated area of the check. After setting the printing characters at the required amount, P13011101 the check in the transverse guidin memher 4 and properly marking or em sing the check by a single movement of the cranki33 through substantially less than 180, .the crank is then moved back into its normal position shown in Fig. 1, preferably by means of a suitable spring which may be coiled about the shaft 31 as is well understood in the art, thereby allowing the notched free end of the lever 49 to again engage the pin 50 of the lever 51. Suitable pins 61 and 62 project outwardly horizontally from the side wall 3 of the casing 1 these pins serving as stops to limit the movement of the crank 32.

As shown in Fig. 2, I have provided a door 58 in the outer end of the casing 1, thereby allowing access to the interior of the casing when it is desired to replenish the supply of ink in the inking pad 20, this pad functioning most advantageously when the ink therein is kept in a more or less hygroscopic state.

In Fig. 4 I have shown diagrammatically fool proof mechanism, which I contemplate employing to prevent the insertion of a check or the like into the guiding member 4 when the crank 32 is out of its normal position. It is apparent that if a check were inserted when the rollers 30 are in engagement with the depressed portion 36 of the lifting cams, operation of the crank 32 would print the amount upon the check without perforating the same. To guard against this I have provided the interconnected pins 65, one of which projects upwardly adjacent each side of the casing 1. The pins 65 are normally projected upwardly through suitable apertures provided in the lower plate of the guiding member 4 and into engagement with the upper plate of the guiding member by means of the leaf spring 66, A lever arm, 67, pivotally mounted at 68 is provided with an upwardly extending porfion 69 this upwardly extending portion having a pin projecting horizontally. therefrom, out througha suitable slot in the easing 1, or being otherwise adapted to be engaged by the crank 32, just before it engages the stop 61. Engagement of the crank 32 witlrthe lever 67 moves the same downwardly about the pivot 68 and into engagement with the leaf spring 66, thereby withdrawing the .pins 65 from the guiding member 4. Movement of the crank 32 away from the stop 61 releases the pins 65 allowingthem to be projected upwardly through the apertures provided in the lower plate of the guiding member 4, thereby preventing the insertion of a check or the like in the guiding member until the crank is returned to its normal position. Upon .placing a check or the like in the guidingmember 4 and {moving-the crank 32 away from the stop 61, the -pins.65 will be projected up "throu 11 the lower plate of theguidingmember, t liereby holding the check securely therein, until the same has been properly I embossed and the crank has been returned to its normal position, 7

Iln Fig. 6 I have} shown on an enlarged sca e, characters with the perforated area of the check. It is apparent that the upstanding ragged edges 59, formed? upon perforating the paper 60, will be the first to engage the inked faces of the printing characters 6 upon the upward movement of the platen 42. As the platen 42 is moved farther upwardly, the upstanding thoroughly inked edges 59 of the paper 60 will be crushed or flattened, by the co5peration of the'platen 42 with the rinting characters 6 thereby forcing the ink into the fiber of the paper and making it impossible to remove the ink or otherwise alter the amount payable without mutilating the face of the paper 60.

In Fig; 7 I have shown in perspective a stripper for removing the check from the perforating pins upon the perforation of the check. The stripper 70 comprises a rectangular open plate 71, the longest edges there of being-bent downwardly at substantially rightangles thereto, as shown at 72 and 73. The downwardly extending portions 72 and 73 of the open plate 71 are slotted as shown at 74 for the reception of suitable pins 7 5 therethrough, the pins 75 projecting substantially horizontally from the transverse plate 24. The open plate 71, -which is guided by the pins 75 is normally held in the raised positionby the leaf springs 76, oneend of each of these springs 76 being securely mounted in the transverse plate 24.

It will now be apparent that upon lifting the coiiperative-action of the printing the transverse perforating plate 24 to perforate the check, the open plate 71 will engage the bottom surface of the check before the perforating pins 27, thereby holding the check securely against the pad 21 during the perforation of the check, the 0 en area of the plate 71 being sufficiently arge to allow the perforating pins to pass therethrough against the tension bf the leaf springs 76.

Upon withdrawing the perforating pins from the check the plate 71 will remain in engagement therewith until the pins have been withdrawn, thereby insuring proper removal of the check from the pins. Further operation of the device removes the open plate 71 from its engagement with the under surface of the check, just before the inking pad 20 is moved to the right, as has been explained.

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details of construction shown and described.

1.- In a device of the class described, a casing having a predetermined printing space therein, a plurality of type bearing members, each of said typ'e bearing members having a series of substantially smoothfaced printing characters thereon, said printing characters adapted to be brought into selective registration with said printing space, perforating means operating in said printing space for simultaneously perforating the entire printing area of the check in said printing space, and impression means cooperating with said printing characters for simultaneously impressing all of the selected printing characters in the perforated area of the check. 7

2. In a check protecting device, a plurality of type bearing members, each of said type bearing members having a series of substantially smooth faced printing characters thereon, said check protecting device having a predetermined printing space thereon, said printing characters adapted to be brought into selective registration with said printing space, perforating means operating in said printing space for simultaneously perforating the entire printing area of the check, and impression means for cooperating with said printing characters.

3. In a check protecting device, a plurality of type bearing members, each of said type bearing members having a series of substantially smooth faced printing characters thereon, said check protecting device having a definite printing space thereon, said printing characters adapted to be brought into selective registration with said printing space, perforating means operating in said printing space for simultaneously perforating the entire printing area of the check, and impression means cooperating with said printing characters for simulr rality of perforati 'perforated area. f I The method of embossing a thin sheet "which comprises simultaneously perforating the check prior to the printing thereof.

5. The method of embossinga check or the like, which comprises perforating the check with aplurality of fine circular needle-like holes from only one side thereof by a plupoints moving substan tially normal to. t e plane of the check,

"thereby raising substantially continuous edges and fibers; around the circular perforations and then: impressing printing characters upon the, opposite side of said the entire area to be embossed by a plural- .ity of fine needle-like points moving substantially normal to the plane of the sheet, forcing the broken edges to one side, applying ink to the broken edges and then pressing'the broken edges into substantial alinement with the sheet, said sheet remaining in "a substantially stationary position during all of said operations.

' 7. In a'device of the class described, printing mechanism comprising a plurality of printing characters adapted to be brought into/register with a printing line in said device, impression means cooperating with said printing characters, and perforating mechanism adapted to perforate the entire area of-the check coincident with said print ing line at one operation, said perforating mechanism operating independently of said printing mechanism and prior to the operation thereof.

8. In a device of the class described, a plurality of printing characters adapted to be brought into register with a printing line, perforating means adapted to perforate the entire area of the check coincident with said printing line at one operation, and a platen movable into alinement with said printing line and adapted to simultaneously impress the selected group of printing characters into the perforated area of the check.

9. In a device of the class described, a plurality of printing characters adapted to be brought into register with a printing line in said device, perforating means, a platen member, and means for alternately with the entire area of the check coincident,

with said printing line.

10. In a device of the class described, plurality of substantially smooth faced printing characters adapted to be brought into register with a printing line in said device, perforating means, a platen member, and means for alternately moving first said perforating means and then said platen member into operative position in register with said printing line.

11. In a device of the class described, a plurality of printing characters adapted to be brought into register with a printii line, a perforating plate having a plurality of perforating projections thereon, said perforating plates being alined directly opposite the selected printing characters, and a platen member adapted to be moved between said perforating plate and the perforated area of the check nto said rinted line.

12. In a device of the c ass described, a plurality of printing characters adapted to be brought into register with a printing line, a perforating plate beneath said printing line, a movable platen member adjacent said printing line, means for raising said perforating plate for perforating the check, and means for moving said platen member over said perforating plate into said printing line in position for cooperation with said printing characters. 1

13. In a device of the class described, a plurality of printing characters adapted to be brought into register with a printing line, a perforating plate beneath said printing line, a movable platen member adjacent said printing line, an operating shaft, cam means on said shaft for raising said perforating plate into said printing line, and arms on said shaft for swinging said platen member over said perforating plate into said printing line in position for cooperation with said printing characters.

14:. In combination, a plurality of printing characters adapted to be brought into register with a printing line, perforating means independent of said printing characters adapted to perforate the area of the check coincident with said printing line, a matrix adapted for movement into and out of said printing line for cooperation with said perforating means and means operating with said matrix for inking the printing characters in register with said printing line.

15. In combination, a plurality of printing characters adapted to be brought into register with a printing line, perforating means independent of said printing characters adapted to perforate the area of the check coincident with said printing line, a matrix adapted for movement into and out of said printing line for cooperation with said perforating means and an inking pad carried by said matrix and adapted to ink said printing characters.

16. In a check writer, a plurality of type bearing elements having printing characters adapted to be broiight into register with a printing line, each of said type bearing elements having depressions formed therein in sequence with said printing characters, a common alining bar for all of said type bearing elements, spring means for normally retaining said alining bar in said depressions, a platen adapted for cooperation with said printing characters and means operating upon=the cooperation of said platen with said printing characters for forcibly pressing said alining bar into said depressions.

17!. In a check writer the combination of a casing, said casing having a slottherein for receiving a check, printing mechanism in said casing, perforating mechanism in said casing, an operating crank for operating both of said mechanisms by a complete stroke thereof, a detent pin operable to obstruct said slot to prevent insertion of a check in said casing, and yieldable means controlled by said operating crank for moving said detent to its obstruct ing position upon the initial movement of said operating crank.

18. The herein described method of impressing characters on a thin sheet which. consists in perforating the sheet from one side thereof with closely related fine needlelike perforations of circular formation, thereby raising substantially continuous edges and fibers around said circular perforations upon the opposite surface of said sheet. then inking said raised edges and fibers en definite areas to indicate printing characters, then compressing the sheet over said printed areas to force said projecting edges and fibers back into the plane of the sheet.

19. Th herein described method of impressing printing characters upon a thin sheet which consists in perforating the sheet over a selected area from one side of the sheet with closely related fine needle-like holes of circular formation, then impressin inking characters upon the reverse side of the sheet upon said perforated areas with sufficient pressure to force the projecting; edges and fibers back into the plane of the sheet.

20. The herein described method of impressing printing characters upon a thin sheet which consists in forcing a plurality of closely related circular needle points through the sheet from one side thereof, thereby closely perforating the sheet with a plurality of minute circular perforations and raising substantially continuous edges and fibers around said circular perforations upon the opposite side of said sheet, and impressing printing characters upon the raised edges and fibers with suflicient pressure to force same back into the plane of the sheet.

21. The herein described method of impressing printing characters upon a check which consists in placing a check in a definite position, and while it is in such position and without movement of the check, subjecting the check to the perforating action of a plurality of closely related circular needle points to the extent of raising substantially continuous edges and fibers of substantially uniform height around the circular perforations upon the opposite side of the check, then while the check is still held in said position impressing inking characters upon said perforated area upon said raised edges and fibers with sufiicient pressure to force said edges and fibers back into the plane of the check.

22. In a check writer the combination of a check guide a plurality of closely grouped perforating needles having parallel axes, a matrix for cooperation therewith, means for effecting an axial movement of said needles relative to said matrix to force said needles through a check in said guide, and printing mechanism operable after said perforating operation for printing upon the perforated area of the check, said perforating needles and said printing mechanism arranged to operate on opposite sides of said check,

23. In a check writer the combination of a plurality of closely grouped perforating needles having parallel axes, a matrix for cooperation therewith, means for effecting a straight line movement between said needles and matrix to force said needles through the check from the rear side thereof, and printing mechanism operable after said perforating operation for printing upon the perforated area of the check on the front side thereof.

242. In a check writer the combination of a perforating means including a plurality of parallel needles and mechanism for effecting axial movement of said needles relative to the check to perforate the check from one side thereof, and printing means for printing upon the perforated area of the check on the other side thereof after the perforating operation.

25. In a check writer the combination of a perforating means for perforating the check from one side thereof, said means including a plurality of parallel needles having a straight line movement relative to the check, oppositely disposed printing characters for operating upon the perforated area of the check on the other side thereof after the perforating operation, and means interposable between said perforating means and the check for cooperation with said printing characters to effect the printing impression.

26. In a check writer the combination of perforating points for perforatingthe check from one side thereof, oppositely disposed printing characters for operating upon the perforated area of the cheek upon the other side thereof after the perforating operation,

' a matrix interposable between said printing characters and the check for cooperation with said perforating points, and a platen interposable between said points and said check for cooperation with said'printing characters.

27. In a check writer the combination of perforating points for perforating the check from one side thereof, oppositely disposed printing characters for operating upon the perforated area of the check on the other side thereof after the perforating operation, and means interposable between said perforating points and the check for cooperation with said printing characters to effect the printmg impressions.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of March, A. D.

GEORGE M. WILLIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

